Church of St Mary Magdalene, Wookey Hole facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Church of St Mary Magdalene
Church of St Mary Magdalene
Religion
Affiliation	Church of England
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	Active
Year consecrated	1874
Location
Location	Wookey Hole, Somerset, England
Architecture
Architect(s)	Benjamin Ferrey, Benjamin E. Ferrey
Architectural type	Church

The Church of St Mary Magdalene is a beautiful Church of England church. You can find it in Wookey Hole, Somerset, England. This church is named after Mary Magdalene, who was a companion of Jesus.

The church was designed by Benjamin Ferrey and his son. It was built between 1873 and 1874. Since 2004, it has been recognized as a Grade II listed building. This means it's an important historical building.

History of the Church

Why the Church Was Built

The Church of St Mary Magdalene was first built as a "chapel of ease." This means it was a smaller church for people who lived far from the main parish church. The main church was St Cuthbert's Church in Wells.

At that time, more and more people were moving to Wookey Hole. This was because of the paper industry there. Local paper mills were run by a company called Messrs. William S. Hodgkinson and Co.

Mr. Hodgkinson's Help

Mr. Hodgkinson was a very kind person who helped the village a lot. He had many homes and other buildings constructed in Wookey Hole. For example, he built the local school in 1871.

With support from Rev. J. Beresford, the Vicar of St. Cuthbert's, Mr. Hodgkinson started a plan for a new church. People donated money to help pay for it.

Building the Church

The church was designed by Benjamin Ferrey and his son, Benjamin Edmund Ferrey. The first stone was laid in November 1873. This special event was done by the Bishop of Bath and Wells, Lord Arthur Hervey.

The first parts built were the church's main hall (called the nave) and the bottom of the tower. This tower base also worked as the south entrance. Mr. James Diment of Bristol built these parts for about £1,800.

The total cost for the church was expected to be £3,000. More money was needed to finish everything. However, the nave and porch were completed. So, the church was officially opened by the Bishop of Bath and Wells on June 24, 1874.

Later Additions and Improvements

The back part of the church (the chancel), a room for clergy (the vestry), and the organ room were built later. This happened between 1876 and 1877. Mrs. Hodgkinson paid the £1,100 needed for this work. She did this to honor her husband's memory.

Special services were held on June 11, 1877, to celebrate the opening of this new section. Later, in 1880, Mrs. Hodgkinson also gave the church an organ. It was built by W.G. Vowles and Son from Bristol.

Restoration Work

The church was made even more beautiful and changed a bit between 1922 and 1923. The Hodgkinson family paid the £3,000 cost for this work. Frank Ernest Howard drew up the plans, and Messrs. Mowbray of Oxford did the building work.

During this time, the vestry was made larger. New items were added, like a stone font with carved designs. A new bell was also added and first rung on November 5, 1922. The floor was re-tiled, and local people volunteered to re-stain the seats. A special service was held on July 29, 1923, to celebrate these improvements.

Church Design and Features

Building Materials and Style

The Church of St Mary Magdalene was built using local stone. This stone came from Mr. Hodgkinson's quarry nearby. The decorative parts and corners were made from Doulting stone.

The church is built in an Early English Gothic style. This is a type of architecture from the early 1200s in England.

Parts of the Church

The church building has several main parts. These include the nave (the main area where people sit), the chancel (the area near the altar), the vestry (a room for clergy), and an organ chamber.

The base of the tower is in the south-west corner of the nave. This tower base also serves as the porch, which is the entrance area. There were plans to build the tower taller with a fancy spire, but this part was never completed.

War Memorial

In the churchyard, there is a memorial for World War I. It is made of Doulting stone. Mr. T. Mills of Wells designed, built, and put it up. The Archdeacon of Wells dedicated it on December 20, 1919. Like the church, this memorial has also been a Grade II listed building since 2004.